Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Le Hulston 1447–8 SBL2482

• Hulston 1470–1,77,78,82 SBL115,182,97,116 1575etseqto1624 PR(L)

• Houlston 1547 PR(L)

• Hoolston 1729 ib

• Houlson 1603 PR(L)

• Houston 1629 PR(L)

• Howston 1635 ib

• Housan 1632 PR(L)

• Hooson 1672 HTR

Etymology

If the final element is tūn no suggestion can be offered for the qualifier. If it is stān this could be a compound with *hugol 'small hill, mound', found in Howle, Part 1161. There are no hills, but a mound would be conspicuous in this low-lying area.

Houleston on 1833 OS corresponds to Houlston Manor on modern maps, and the above GR is for this site. The 1999 Explorer map gives the name Houlston to a farm ½ mile N. which is Lower Houlston Farm on 1961 1″. The 1900 6″ map has Houlston for this site and Houlston Farm for the Manor.